A VCoNiN multi-principal nitride film with excellent wear performance

The multi-principal nitride film is known for its high hardness, good corrosion resistance, but its limited toughness severely reduces its wear resistance. This study presents a VCoNiN weak-nitride-forming system with unique microstructure of nanocrystalline embedded in amorphous matrix. The VCoNiN system demonstrates superior hardness to the VCoNi multi-principle alloy film and VN metal nitride film. Moreover, it exhibits the lowest wear rate against Si₃N₄ at room temperature. The exceptional mechanical properties and excellent oxidation resistance derived from the multi-principal system contribute to the superior wear resistance of VCoNiN. Additionally, the novel microstructure allows for more uniform deformation during wear as the nanocomposite structure accommodates plastic strain without cracking or localized brittle fracture. This provides a promising design strategy for weak-nitride-forming film with enhanced wear resistance by enhancing the plastic deformation ability of brittle nitride.